Defendants get five years for distributing fake money
Defendants get five years for distributing fake money
JAKARTA (JP): Two defendants in a counterfeit money case
winced on Monday after a judge sentenced them to five years each
in prison for distributing Rp 80 million (US$8,421) of fake
money.
"The court finds defendants Timothy Erick Yonathan, alias
Temmy, 36, and Hassan Foh, 47, guilty of violating Article 245 of
the Criminal Code on fake money distribution," presiding judge
Manis Sudjono told a hearing at the Central Jakarta District
Court.
The article carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
The sentence was much heavier than the two years and six
months jail term demanded by prosecutor Sulaiman Hajarati.
At the hearing, Judge Manis said defendant Hassan had gone to
Bogor last November and received Rp 80 million in fake money from
the couple of Bunga F. Pandiangan and Rayya Farida Silaen.
"Defendant Hassan also said that he wanted to use the money to
buy dollars," the judge said.
"He gave Rp 35 million to defendant Timothy, who then worked
at the Pasar Baru office of Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI). Of the
remaining Rp 45 million in fake money, defendant Hassan used Rp
20 million to pay off his debts."
Upon leaving the courtroom, Timothy and Hassan said the police
had yet to bring the cases of Rayya and her husband, Bunga, to
court.
"Both 'witnesses' did not come to court to testify. They just
sent written testimonies to be read by their lawyers. We are sure
that they will never be brought to court," Timothy said.
"They are the ones who gave Hassan the fake money, and they
are the ones who are now free. What does that tell you about the
prosecutor and the judges of this case?"
At the hearing, Judge Manis said the police made the arrests
of Hassan and Timothy after a creditor, whom Hassan paid in full,
started to suspect the money he received from Hassan, and
reported the case to the city police.
"The city police caught hold of Hassan, who later led the
police to arrest Timothy," he said.
"Police found Rp 15 million in fake money at Timothy's
residence in Cimanggis, Bogor, and Rp 20 million in the drawer of
his work desk at BNI." (ylt)